610 NERVES OP THE UTERUS. 



primitive formation of the utems by the blending of these two canals. 

 Around the cervix uteri the muscular fibres assume a circular form 

 interlacing with and crossing each other at acute angles. The mucous 

 membrane is provided with a columnar ciliated epithelium, which ex- 

 tends from the middle of the cervix uteri to the extremities of the 

 Fallopian tubes. 



Vessels and Nerves. The Arteries of the uterus are the uterine 

 from the internal iliac, and the spermatic from the aorta. The veins 

 are very large and remarkable ; in the impregnated uterus they are 

 called sinuses, and consist of canals channeled through the substance 

 of the organ, being merely lined by the internal membrane of the 

 veins. They terminate on each side of the' uterus in the uterine 

 plexuses. The lymphatics terminate in the lumbar glands. 



The Nerves of the uterus are derived from the hypogastric and 

 spermatic plexuses, and from the sacral plexus. They have been 

 made the subject of special investigation by Dr. Robert Lee, who has 

 successfully repaired the omission made by Dr. William Hunter, in 

 this part of the anatomy of the organ. In his numerous dissections 

 of the uterus, both in the unimpregnated and gravid state, Dr. 

 Lee has made the discovery of several large nervous ganglia and 

 plexuses. The principal of these, situated on each side of the cervix 

 uteri immediately behind the ureter, he terms the hypogastric gang- 

 lion; it receives the greater number of the nerves of the hypogastric 

 and sacral plexus, and distributes branches to the uterus vagina, 

 bladder, and rectum. Of the branches to the uterus, a large fasci- 

 culus proceeds upwards by the side of the organ towards its angle, 

 where they communicate with branches of the spermatic plexus, 

 and form another large ganglion, which he designates the spermatic 

 ganglion, and which supplies the fundus uteri. Besides these, Dr. 

 Lee describes vesical and vaginal ganglia, and anterior and posterior 

 subperitoneal ganglia, and plexuses^ which communicate with the pre- 

 ceding, and constitute an extensive nervous rete over the entire uterus. 

 Dr. Lee concludes his observations by remarking : " These dissec- 

 tions prove that the human uterus possesses a great system of nerves, 

 which enlarges with the coats, blood-vessels, and absorbents, during 

 pregnancy, and which returns after parturition to its original condi- 

 tion before conception takes place. It is chiefly by the influence of 

 these nerves that the uterus performs the varied functions of menstrua- 

 tion, conception, and parturition, and it is solely by their means that 

 the whole fabric of the nervous system sympathises with the different 

 morbid affections of the uterus. If these nerves of the uterus could 

 not be demonstrated, its physiology and pathology would be com- 

 pletely inexplicable."* 



* Philosophical Transactions for 1842. 



